It’s completely possible to go on a safari in one of the remotest areas of the world, and be utterly bored. I’ve done that. It’s equally as possible to have some of the most harrowing and memorable moments of your life while being lost for 2 hours in a city you thought you knew like the back of your hand. I’ve done that as well.
We think that adventures require money, loads of time, and great geographic displacement. We browse jealously through photos of our Facebook friends on their epic trips to [This Island] or [That Country] to do [Something Conventionally Crazy].
I’m going to go ahead and argue here that these notions about what constitutes an adventure are ridiculous. Adventures aren't only about the places we go and the new things we see, although that can certainly add to the fun. An adventure, at its core, is about putting ourselves in an unfamiliar situation that will push us to try new things and expand what we know and how we experience the world.
This blog series will be dedicated to an endeavor I’m calling:
The Adventure Challenge: Fun on the Homefront
The goal: to accomplish a series of 10 adventures that are:
1) cheap
2) local
3) and most importantly, something exciting that will put me out of my element.
ADVENTURE #1: Make a Craig’s List Friend – This definitely has the potential to turn out weird (or...weirdly cool?). Obviously, the first meet-up won't be an intimate hike in the woods. But I’m going to get over my real-connections-can't-be-made-through-the-internet high horse and prove that it is possible to meet cool people off of Craig’s List!
ADVENTURE #2: Join a Dungeons and Dragons Circle Group? League? I don't even know what to call it. I’m woman enough to admit that my cognizance of D&D only began when I watched the movie in 2000 (thank you Justin Whalin). Something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time now, but have been hesitant to try, is to be a part of the D&D community. I get nervous though, because I frankly don’t feel knowledgeable enough about fantasy role-play etiquette to try this. But I love the concept of story-based gaming, and you really can’t get more adventurous than dragons….or dungeons.
ADVENTURE #3: Go solo to a bar - This was one inspired by a conversation I had with one of my good friends. Why is it unacceptable for girls to go to bars alone? You know, just to hang, grab a beer, watch people, watch a game, or find kindred spirits. I’m going to give it a shot. Social norms be damned.
ADVENTURE #4: Visit 5 new states – In order to uphold the “cheap” criteria of this series, I’m going to travel as frugally as possible while highlighting parts of the U.S. that are not typically regarded as hot adventure spots.
ADVENTURE #5: Hitchhike – I've been talking with some people about doing a hitchhiking voyage in the very near future. We did it all the time in Cameroon, but I've yet to try it here. Don't worry. There will be safeguards in place.
ADVENTURE #6: Go to a Renaissance Fair – I think what makes me nervous about Renaissance Fairs is the unflappable dedication to character by the actors. I’ve always admired, but been frightened by, theater folk. Especially the passionate ones. This will address that.
ADVENTURE #7: Go to a concert for a genre of music that I’ve never heard live – So, full disclosure. While I would say that my iTunes library paints me as a well-rounded and flavorful listener of all kinds of music, my actual history of live music shows that I’ve attended says otherwise. My first ever concert was American Idols Live!, and while I’ve desperately been trying to amp up that list with shows in LA, my record is still woefully short and embarrassingly pop-inclined. Any suggestions? Metal? Ska? Country?
ADVENTURE #8: Learn to code – This will be more of an intellectual adventure. It’s later in the game for me, but I want to hop on the women-in-STEM movement. This will be an adventure in overcoming my traumatic past with quants and tech (which includes accidentally destroying my family computer’s motherboard in 2002, and being destroyed by the AP Calc test in 2007). What greater adventure than overcoming one of your greatest insecurities?
ADVENTURE #9: Do some urban exploring – As a follower of the law and a general non-fan of tetanus, I get a naughty thrill by exploring empty buildings, particularly ones that have been neglected. I want to take this to the next level.
ADVENTURE #10: Learn to rollerskate (well), and then skate the length of an entire city – Nobody likes to look like a fool. But some of the most fun and memorable moments in life happen when we risk doing so.
Onward ho!